Motocross racers from as far away as California and Florida competed in the third annual Hahn Brothers Supercross Shootout, held Friday and Saturday at the GBMX Park in the Great Bend Expo Complex.
Chelsea Mermis, one of the Great Bend sponsors of the two-day amateur and pro event, said it is “definitely growing.”
“We had a lot more riders than we had last year,” Mermis said, “and we’ve got a lot of spectators.”
New this year were the Side By Side races, featuring off-road utility vehicles. “Great Benders are known for UTVs,” Mermis said.
World-class supercross riders Wil and Tommy Hahn got their start in motocross at amateur events held in Great Bend, and have helped bring dirt bike racing back to Barton County by sponsoring the shootouts.
According to the GMBX Park website, gbmxpark.com, the track traces its roots to the 1980s and ’90s, when its central location attracted many future pros, including the Hahn brothers. After it closed in 1993, the track was leveled and left vacant until 2013. With the help of Amerine Construction, Tom Hahn, Rob Mermis, Don Bisceglia, Ivan Tedesco and many other local volunteers, the track was rebuilt on its original location.